Cleanup and repairs to businesses and government buildings continued June 1 Downtown as Jacksonville protesters joined nationwide demonstrations reacting to the death of George Floyd in Minneapolis.
Downtown Vision Inc., a taxpayer-funded nonprofit urban core advocacy organization, reported June 1 that eight buildings in a two- to three-block radius from Ocean to Adams streets recorded some vandalism after peaceful protests for racial equality and law enforcement reform later turned violent.
Nationwide, protests began May 25 with the death of Floyd, a black man who died after white police officer Derek Chauvin, who is charged with murder, pressed his knee into Floyd’s neck for several minutes, Daily Record news partner News4Jax.com reported June 1.
The Northside Coalition of Jacksonville Inc., an advocacy organization focused on social, racial, and economic injustice, was the primary organizer of local protests. Jacksonville Mayor Lenny Curry and Sheriff Mike Williams told reporters May 30 the initial protest, which brought more than 1,200 people Downtown, remained peaceful.
Williams said about 200 people remained Downtown after the peaceful protest dispersed and confronted police officers, damaged JSO vehicles and vandalized the facades of commercial and government buildings.
Law enforcement officials blocked off Downtown streets and used tear gas to disperse crowds that remained in the area.
Peaceful protests that resumed May 31 also shifted into skirmishes with police later in the day.
DVI CEO Jake Gordon said June 1 that Downtown buildings damaged were the Jessie Ball duPont Center; the former Burro Bar; Dos Gatos; TTV Architects Inc.; The 5 & Dime Theatre Co.; First Baptist Church; and the Duval County Supervisor of Elections building.
Gordon said the Downtown business community and DVI employees held mixed emotions after the weekend violence.
“We stand with the idea that racism is abhorrent and institutionalized racism needs to end in our society,” he said.
“The frustrations are well-founded.”
But, he said, “I was a little frustrated yesterday to see vandalism that didn’t seem related to the protests.”
Gordon said damage was mainly broken windows and graffiti. He said reports of looting were unfounded.
DVI contacted Downtown commercial property owners who were unaware that their buildings were impacted by the vandalism, Gordon said.
The DVI CEO said he wants Jacksonville shoppers to know that most Downtown small businesses — still facing revenue shortfalls from COVID-19 closures — are open to customers.
“It is very difficult for our property owners,” Gordon said. “This global pandemic has been difficult for our small businesses in Downtown, and people going around breaking windows is very difficult for me.”
DVI deployed six Downtown Ambassadors May 31 and June 1 to help remove graffiti and pick up tear gas canisters, broken glass and trash, Gordon said.
Peaceful protests continued June 1, with about 50 people gathered at noon on the steps of the Duval County Courthouse.
Curry ordered an 8 p.m.-6 a.m. curfew May 31-June 1. He told WJXT Channel 4 reporter Jim Piggott in an interview June 1 that he didn’t know if another curfew would be issued.
“I don’t know the answer to that,” Curry said. “These situations are fluid, based on intelligence that our local JSO gathers through their channels and information they get through the federal government.”
Curry said he would prefer not to have a curfew, but he will not allow violence to continue.
“When you give an inch to those who act violently, to those who want to vandalize, they’re going to take a heck of a lot more than an inch and we just can’t let that happen in our city,” Curry said.
